IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 143-10
February 23, 2010

The Department of Defense announced today that its National Resource Directory [ https://www.nationalsresourcedirectory.gov/ ] (NRD) Web site for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them, recently received a comprehensive system upgrade to provide users with easier access.

This Web site is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor (DOL), and compiles federal, state, local  and non-profit resources for wounded warriors, veterans, family members and caregivers in a single, searchable site.

"We worked closely with users of the National Resource Directory to find out how to make the information they need easier to find," said Noel Koch, deputy under secretary of defense for Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy. "The resulting re-design is easier to navigate and adds useful new features."

The upgrade makes the latest wounded warrior and veteran issues easier to locate and follow. A new "bookmark and share" application helps visitors alert others to the content they've found most helpful through social bookmarking, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking tools. Visitors can also subscribe to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or e-mail updates to receive new content, events and features based on their specific interests and needs.

"There are thousands of programs and benefits available to wounded warriors and  their families, from healthcare and housing to education and employment assistance," said Koch. "Our people must have an easy way to sift through it all to find the resources that are most helpful for their circumstances, especially while they're dealing with what can be overwhelming challenges. That's why we've partnered with the VA and Department of Labor to offer the National Resource Directory. And with the feedback mechanisms we've added in the re-design, we'll be able to keep improving
 our service to our wounded warriors and families."

The faster, enhanced search engine ranks information based on the popularity of the sources among other site users, so the most valuable resources rise to the top of the search results. Visitors can tailor searches for resources in specific states and territories, and apply filters to narrow their searches.

The re-designed site also highlights resources to assist homeless veterans. NRD users can also recommend additional  resources. All resources are thoroughly vetted prior to inclusion on the National Resource Directory, and as always, content is updated and reviewed daily by a content management team which includes veterans and subject matter experts.

More information is available at http://www.NationalResourceDirectory.gov [ http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/ ]